Jaeger-LeCoultre

I wanted to dedicate this post, the first of many others to come after my visit at the JLC Manufacture, to all these women and men who work there, who live in the shadow of the Artists ( Designers, Master Horologers, etc...) and allow them to create such marvels which feed our Dreams.

Without them, nobody, from the creators to the fans, would see, enjoy and live with the object of our common Passion, these watches.

By respect for them, I didn't take pics representing them at their work.

They have no desire  nor attraction for Glory, but they are pride of what they do, they are passionate, they are friendly, they have the willing to share their opus with those who take the time to visit the place where they work, the Manufacture, a kind of Town into the Town.

They all are magicians, alchimists, who are to transform the more common things in pure Marvels.

I highly recommend those of us who can pay them a visit, to share a bit of our time with them, to see them working.

This is the only way to fully appreciate our friendly and faithful companion, THE watch, OUR watch, but also THEIR watch.

These pictures will allow you to realize how difficult, how incredible is their work.

This is pure Art, pure Surgery, too.

Look at this ribbon of metal:



The machine drills it regularly, under the Human Control.

The outcome is here:



From the Brut metal, the pieces are shaped by the machine, once again, and controled.

They look nice!





The transformation is impressively illustrated on these 2 follwing pictures.

From the big metal bars, you get these microscopic parts:





You have to wash them in a bath of water and small stones whose size depends on the outcome you want to get, then you put them in alcohol.

Some of these components are hardly visible, so you can imagine the difficulty to put them together.

Here, a dirty pic, but to give you an idea, these 2 parts were put side by side at a distance of maybe 1 centimeter.

On your left, the piece before, and on your right, the piece after, called " Dard ", which has to be located at the middle of the basis of the anchor.



It is that small that it took me almost one minute to find it and to make the focuse on it!

So you can imagine the complexity of the task!

Now, the work done on a wheel...

On your left, before...On your right, after:



Once all is checked, cleaned, polished, you can begin to put the blued screws, and the jewels, and then again, things are not simple, as these components are veeeery small:





The processus to get heated blue srews is very complex and precise, too, as the outcome will depend on the temperature and the time you heat them, because the color changes with these factors.

Yes, we don't have to forget that sometimes, the machines are not only helpful for Humans, but were, before being helpful, created by the watchmakers, like this pignon tool:



Or the famous Millionometre, created by Antoine Lecoultre in ...1844!



Let's not forget that behind the machines, there are great people, with an awesome skillness and mastery, who are the genius the DNA of the Brand, TRUE Artists, creating TRUE watches.

Huge thanks for all the amazing work they all do!

Best,

Nicolas This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-10-16 06:31:58 This message has been edited by Dje on 2009-10-21 03:48:43 This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-10-21 07:20:12 This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-10-25 06:44:29

...you must have had a great time.  Really fun to see this stuff.  based on the first photo, watchmaking looks like it is very hard onthe hands. LOL.

Thanks for a great post, Nicolas. 

respo 

Wo Wo Wo

thanks a lot for this beautiful pictures Amanico !

BUT no pic can beat the real atmosphere which reigns inside the Manufacture.

It is worth visiting them!

Best,

Nicolas

I had really great time at the JLC Manufacture, and also because of these great people.

Now, I'm stuck behind my computer, selecting the pics, and thiknig about the next posts...

As always!

Best,

Nicolas

Ouch!!!

Marcelo

How hard this work can be.

Even if Humans are helped by the Machines, the Machines don't do all in the making of our watches.

It was important to enhance the quality and the hardness of these People job.

You will certainly not loo at your watch in the same way, now.

Best, my friend

Nicolas

 

You’re right, my friend - it’s not just glamour in the watchmaking industry

 

I wish you a nice week!

 

Marcelo

when you know all the work and craftsmanship that go into making a timepiece. All of this concentred on your wrist it is quite amazing. Thanks for taking the time of relating the work of these great people.

No message body

Nico, more pics please please... want to see more.

stefan

All the infos and pics...

Best, my friend.

Nicolas

great pictures. thanks for showing us our watch parts in raw form before being carefully assembled!

Was very interesting to see all these details, and amazing to see them working for our greatest pleasure!

Best, my friend.

Nicolas

Why would we want anything else?  Like a great woodworker, his mark left behind on his pieces.  So much more character, and capable of evoking emotion.  We're lucky to be able to experience such true beauty.

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...how Gulliver felt in the land of the Lilliputians. Thank you Nicolas for that photographic
trip through the minutia that will eventually be a true work of art.
N

It's the 3rd time I go to the Manufacture, and each time, I'm breathless in front of such skillness.

These guys are magicians.

Best, Neil.

Nicolas

 

Hand crafted watches are all pieces of Art! 

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No message body This message has been edited by amanico on 2009-10-18 13:05:19

for sharing it with us.....

It must have been a great experience my friend ....

Cheers

Each time I go there to see them, it is always the same kindness from them, and the same pleasure for me.

Best, my friend.

Nicolas

... i must admit you're an artist too Nicolas !

Well done, i'm proud of you my son ..

Dad

THEY are.

Best, and thanks for the nice words, my friend.

Nicolas

Thanks for the post Nicolas.

Regards

Drew

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Sure this post has garnered a whole variation of positive responses, but these are my thoughts. This post has caused  the watch aficionado in me to appreciate my watches more and everything else in this life. I tend to think I enjoy the process for more than the proceeds. Like purchasing a grail watch, it's all in the hunt. Like making a watch, it's all in the process. And in living life, it's all about the journey.

Love it Nicolas, you're a purist at heart.

Is THE recompense for these People, I think.

THEY are Purists.

Nicely put, my friend.

Best,

Nicolas